Abstract
Bone accumulation by porcupines at archaeological sites is well known. However, in paleontological sites such a taphonomical occurrence is rather rare. We here report porcupine (Hystrix sp.) gnaw marks on an unidentified bone fragment, dated to ~2.6 Ma from the Upper Siwalik deposits exposed near Khetpurali (Haryana), India. The present gnaw marks are very distinct and are characterized by visible edges and grooves making clear broad and shallow furrows. The present find adds to our knowledge of Siwalik vertebrate taphonomy where most of the accumulations reported earlier were either fluvial or made by carnivores.
Highlights
Some of the first taphonomical studies in the world were carried out on Siwalik vertebrate fossils wherein work was carried out on both experimental and field methods to understand the accumulation of vertebrate fossils
The gnawing marks are in one particular direction (Figure 2b) indicating that the porcupine was holding the bone while gnawing it for a considerable period of time
The gnaw marks were made prior to the burial of the bone, as the bone underwent mineralization along the fractures which overlap the gnaw marks, so the mineralization is subsequent (Figure 2d). This is evident from the colour of the gnaw marks and bone as both are of the same colour (Więckowski et al 2013)
Summary
Some of the first taphonomical studies in the world were carried out on Siwalik vertebrate fossils wherein work was carried out on both experimental and field methods to understand the accumulation of vertebrate fossils. PORCUPINE GNAW MARKS ON A SIWALIK BONE the skeletal material in the archaeological record, report of gnawing by porcupines in paleontological accumulations of Miocene-Pliocene times are rather rare (international examples are cited below). From the Siwaliks has been dated to the Miocene times, gnawing marks on fossil bones made by them have never been reported till date from South Asia. The present paper deals with an isolated mammalian limb bone showing possible evidence of porcupine gnawing. It was recovered from a paleomagnetically dated ~2.6 Ma Khetpurali section (Tandon et al 1984). The gnawing marks are described, compared and discussed in the light of taphonomic accumulation by Siwalik mammals
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